One year anniversary and what a difference a year makes. It is interesting how a little heart condition can motivate you to get in shape, so I can honestly ...Read more
One year anniversary and what a difference a year makes. It is interesting how a little heart condition can motivate you to get in shape, so I can honestly say I am physically better today then before my replacement.
Anna Ma happy anniversary to you too. I also recall several others going in on the 20th and 22th, it was a busy week for this group.
All of you going in to surgery you will find recovery is the fun part.
Have a great day.
Dan
Darrell Malone Congratulations Dan. I'm very glad to hear your doing so well. I've read many of your post and commen ... Read more
Darrell Malone Congratulations Dan. I'm very glad to hear your doing so well. I've read many of your post and comments and you are very inspiring and helpful to others. Thanks for all of your encouragement.
Many more valveversaries to you. Be well Heart Warrior
Rose Madura Congratulations on your one year anniversary!
Pamela Gregory Congratulations on one year!!! Sounds like you are doing great
Valerie Allen Happy Anniversary, Dan. You have been an inspiration to many! 💕
Ana Brusso Congratulations heart warrior. Happy anniversary and continued good health. God bless you 🙏❤️
Dan Fouratt Thank you all, this has been a great day, My work out was great, got a lot of things done and it is ... Read more
Dan Fouratt Thank you all, this has been a great day, My work out was great, got a lot of things done and it is only 1:00! Like I am standing on top of the world or at least a tall building! (Bangkok two weeks ago)
I track my exercise in detail by wife has another term for it. I do various work outs on the treadmill. I did take about a month off mid Feb to Mid March, ...Read more
I track my exercise in detail by wife has another term for it. I do various work outs on the treadmill. I did take about a month off mid Feb to Mid March, traveling out of country. Before I did the workout in question I did several that had data similar to before and after. The one below I had a day the heart went wild. I felt is and stopped. The next day it was back to normal. Has anyone experienced something like this?
Date
Exercise Profile
BPM
Profile
MPH
Slope
Min
Watch
10/21/2024
Fixed
3.4
14.0
80
105
1/28/2025
Fixed
3.4
14.0
90
112
2/11/2025
Fixed
3.4
14.0
90
109
3/16/2025
Fixed
3.4
14.0
75
130
3/17/2025
Fixed
3.4
14.0
90
110
Fidel Martínez Ruiz I have a mitral bioprosthesis implanted 16 months ago. Sometimes my heart rate spikes when I walk bri ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz I have a mitral bioprosthesis implanted 16 months ago. Sometimes my heart rate spikes when I walk briskly or having joggin, but when I slow down it returns to normal. I think if yours is sporadic and brief, it's not significant. Kind regards.
Yumiko Ishida My BPM fluctuates quite a bit, too. As Fidel says, as long as it comes down when you slow down, I don ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida My BPM fluctuates quite a bit, too. As Fidel says, as long as it comes down when you slow down, I don’t think it’s a concern. Hydration, sleep, it could be anything. I noticed mine has been particularly irregular since I had Covid in August. It is very clear when I look at my log over the last year.
Robert Miller As Yumiko said, there are many other factors that can affect the heart rate. It's great that you are ... Read more
Robert Miller As Yumiko said, there are many other factors that can affect the heart rate. It's great that you are tracking it and I would encourage you to keep doing that. But if this was just a one-off, I wouldn't worry too much about it. What I do is getting off the elliptical and to an EKG with my Galaxy watch immediately, then measure it again a minute and two minutes later and see how fast the rate drops. I am easily o 130+ but it usually drops very quickly. Btw, with the Galaxy watch (and the apple watch), you have to make sure there is no sweat between the watch and wrist (I quickly dry both the watch and arm wrist before doing an EKG). If there is a lot of moisture the reading is completely wrong (too high). Also the heart rate with the regular/constant measurement is always off. Only the EKG gives you the correct heart rate.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Very interesting what you explain Robert about sweat@watch . Exactly the same happens to me.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Hey Yumiko: It's impossible for me to sleep the 8 hours that
doctor recommends. I'm happy with 6
h ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Hey Yumiko: It's impossible for me to sleep the 8 hours that
doctor recommends. I'm happy with 6
hours and that's true, stay in bed lying down for 8 hours. 😂 Best wishes to all.
Dan Fouratt Thank you for your comments. I have done that exercise twice now and everything seams normal.
Sterile fluid supply: Like many medical facilities across the nation, our supply chain is feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. Johns Hopkins Medicine currently has a sufficient sterile fluid supply to meet treatment, surgical and emergency needs. However, we have put proactive conservation measures into place to ensure normal operations, always with patient safety as our first priority. Examples of sterile fluids include intravenous (IV), irrigation and dialysis fluids. Learn more.
Kimberly Eisenhut Good article Dan, thank you. I have known this for years, and I do notice they do not always d ... Read more
Kimberly Eisenhut Good article Dan, thank you. I have known this for years, and I do notice they do not always do it properly at Dr offices. Most of the time, they do hold my arm up when they take it manually. I have always rested my arm on my chest high end table when taking my bp at home. I purposely put one of my folding tray tables on my left side of my rocker recliner that also is more convenient for my crafts I do, but even a regular end table is preferable to letting your arm rest in your lap to take your bp. Also, feet flat on the floor and resting for at least a few minutes after sitting down. It will also not be accurate if you've just taken a hot bath or shower or right after eating a large meal. Try to take it at different times of day also about the same times so you get a better understanding of your personal "norms". My bp started getting too low a few months ago in the evenings after my Amlodipine besylate I was told to take around 5p.m. (was at 5mg) and my Dr lowered it to 2.5mg. Perfect now most evenings. She also told me taking a hot shower can lower it, so told me to try not to take too hot of a shower in evening. I guess this is why they say we cannot use hot tubs.
Deena Z Thanks, Dan for sharing. I have shared with others, as well!
I just got good news at least for me, I do not have to take Eliquis and Metoprolol anymore. My 30 day heart monitor showed no signs of any issues. I think ...Read more
I just got good news at least for me, I do not have to take Eliquis and Metoprolol anymore. My 30 day heart monitor showed no signs of any issues. I think the only one who will not be happy to hear this is my Pharmacist. I have dropped from a peak of nine medications down to two for Cholesterol. I am three weeks from my 6 month anniversary. Doc said no follow up for 6 months, no blood test and no additional medicines!
meg oconnell Hey Dan, This is great news! Congratulations and stay the course. I know you are thrilled to gettin ... Read more
meg oconnell Hey Dan, This is great news! Congratulations and stay the course. I know you are thrilled to getting off some of these meds.
Grace Mason Always nice to take fewer meds! That is great Dan.
Suzette Schear Congrats that’s awesome on so many levels especially heart monitoring showing no issues and less mo ... Read more
Suzette Schear Congrats that’s awesome on so many levels especially heart monitoring showing no issues and less money spent for drugs. You should treat your self to something
Darrell Malone Good news Dan. Awesome not to have to take some of those meds anymore
Ana Brusso Congratulations and continued good health 🙏❤️
Dan Fouratt Thank you all. I did celebrate with a great steak and awesome bottle of wine last night. Then to m... Read more
Dan Fouratt Thank you all. I did celebrate with a great steak and awesome bottle of wine last night. Then to make up for it it was 2 hours on the tread mill at 15% and 3.2 mph. I am sore this afternoon. Let's al continue to get better!
I hoping someone here has experience. As I mentioned last post I have a new Doc. He ran a lipoprotien A test. I came be very high. Since there is not drug ...Read more
I hoping someone here has experience. As I mentioned last post I have a new Doc. He ran a lipoprotien A test. I came be very high. Since there is not drug to reduce the above he wants to reduce my LDL as much as possible. Mine is high 90 to low 100 right now and I am on the highest dose of statin and zetia. We want me to start taking PCKS9 inhibitor (Repatha or Proluent) it is a bi weekly injectable medicine. Looks like this is a newer medicine. Looking for someone to share their experience. If you are uncomftable doing it here please email at Dan4att@gmail.com
Thanks
Susan Lynn My LDL is 200. I've had high cholesterol since my 20s as does my entire family including my vegan t... Read more
Susan Lynn My LDL is 200. I've had high cholesterol since my 20s as does my entire family including my vegan twin sister. Prior to having surgery my preop tests showed a cardiac calcium score of zero and my cardiac catheterization was clear.
My mother had an adverse reaction to stains and I vowed to never take them. You may just be one of those people who produces cholesterol - like me and my siblings.
I suggest reading the book called The Cholesterol Myth. I gave a copy to my primary care doc. It's written by a cardiologist and he has very definitive opinions about cholesterol and the use of stains. Best of luck to you!
Rose Madura Susan, who wrote the book you are referring to. I see one on Amazon called The Great Cholesterol Myth ... Read more
Rose Madura Susan, who wrote the book you are referring to. I see one on Amazon called The Great Cholesterol Myth and one called The Cholesterol Myth.
Susan Lynn Sorry, Rose. It's the Great Cholesterol Myth by Drs. Sinatra and Bowden
Deena Z Hi Dan - iI have been on Repatha for two years. — IT is just an epipen. Made a huge difference. ... Read more
Deena Z Hi Dan - iI have been on Repatha for two years. — IT is just an epipen. Made a huge difference. No noticeable side-effects. I go to the John Hopkins Lipid Clinic. I have genetically high LDL and LP(a). The latter is the most important metric. If you are 80 to 100 w/ ldl after highest dose of statin and Zetia it is beyond reasonable that it was recommended.
Yumiko Ishida I was told to keep my LDL below 70 by my neurologist and below 55 by my new cardiologist. Blood vesse ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I was told to keep my LDL below 70 by my neurologist and below 55 by my new cardiologist. Blood vessels in my brain are fragile after mitral valve stenosis, enlarged left atrium, afib, clot, and stoke, so I pretty much resigned myself to being on some form of cholesterol drug for the rest of my life, but am also concerned about long term side effects. My father was put on cholesterol meds in his 40s and suffered kidney damage. I do believe it’s not a one size fits all type of thing. Last time I checked my LDL was 79 and my new cardiologist recommends doubling my statin dose but, using a completely different metric, my naturopath gave me A+ on cholesterol. I think the book Susan recommends could be helpful.
Dan Fouratt First Thank you for the comments. I have decided to start using the drug on the theory that I am tak ... Read more
Dan Fouratt First Thank you for the comments. I have decided to start using the drug on the theory that I am taking two for it so I currently believe that is helps. However I will be doing more research and have ordered the book.
Anna Ma I have oatmeal for breakfast for a year and that lowered my LDL back to normal. Of course I watch oth ... Read more
Anna Ma I have oatmeal for breakfast for a year and that lowered my LDL back to normal. Of course I watch other food I eat—not too much carbs and exercise
Deena Z Dan, the key to the decision per John Hopkin's Lipid Clinic and also Peter Attia, MD (you can check o ... Read more
Deena Z Dan, the key to the decision per John Hopkin's Lipid Clinic and also Peter Attia, MD (you can check out his podcasts on his website) is your lab value on the LP(a) test and/or APOE B. LDL alerts us to there being an issue...
I am 16 weeks post surgery. I met with my fourth doctor since surgery (long story) the good thing was I like him. I had AFlutter a week after surgery which ...Read more
I am 16 weeks post surgery. I met with my fourth doctor since surgery (long story) the good thing was I like him. I had AFlutter a week after surgery which won me three bonus days in the hospital and prescriptions for Eliquis (blood thinner) and Lopressor (metroprolol). Friday I found out there are two schools of thought about Aflutter (or Afib) after heart surgery. One treat it like a long term issue (medicines forever) or treat it like an event and stop the medicines after a point. My Doc is in the second camp. He would take me off medicines if I wanted. He suggested wearing a monitor for a month to be safe. Since my appointment was Friday when nothing was working I am going back next week. Anyone else gone through this? What are your thoughts. I purchased an Apple Watch and it states no Afib and in the last three months only one event over 140, which lasted seconds.
Other then this issue I was given the all clear to do what I want. My wife is also improving getting to the point of walking in her boot. We planned a trip the end of August.
Amy K Hi Dan, I had two bouts of post op afib following robotic mitral valve repair in 2021, one in the hos ... Read more
Amy K Hi Dan, I had two bouts of post op afib following robotic mitral valve repair in 2021, one in the hospital, and another a day after release, causing my return to the hospital for one night. I was put on Eliquis and metroprolol for only 8 weeks. I have never experienced afib again, though I have been told I might in the future. I am very active and also wear an Apple Watch. Enjoy your August trip!
Daneen Douglas Dan, I had the exact same thing happen while in the hospital, and won an extension just like you! I d ... Read more
Daneen Douglas Dan, I had the exact same thing happen while in the hospital, and won an extension just like you! I did have a cardio version in the hospital and have been afib free from what I can tell since. I’m on the same meds and I meet with my doctor in August to wear a monitor and hopefully get taken off of those meds. Im 3 months post surgery tomorrow!
Daneen Douglas I hope you both have a wonderful vacation. Glad you have each other! 🥰
Patricia Miller Dan- I experienced afib several days after my first surgery. (Miral valve repair 5/2022.) I was on E ... Read more
Patricia Miller Dan- I experienced afib several days after my first surgery. (Miral valve repair 5/2022.) I was on Eliquis a couple months. Had IV and oral amiodarone. And no further clear episodes of afib. My second cardiologist recommended the kardia device. I got the 6 lead off of Amazon. You may be fine using the apple watch as they are apparently pretty accurate. The kardia can't report atrial flutter and calls it afib or unclassified. I was eventually referred to an electrophysiologist. She uses a CHADS score which is a tool cardiologists use to determine stroke risk. I am no expert on it, but I know mine was just under the permanent Eliquis need, then my month Holter picked up atrial flutter (couple months ago). I had atrial flutter day 9 after my 1/2024 aortic surgery. It's the gift that keeps on giving for me. I'm scheduled for a cardioversion this wk and an atypical atrial ablation next wk. (right atria and possibly left atrium). The month Holter can give your doctor some good information. If you took amiodarone, it stays in your system for a couple months or more after it's stopped. Hopefully, you are in the group that doesn't experience arrythmia issues again. You are doing great!
Rose Madura Dan, that's a tough call. I had Afib after surgery and fortunately it was gone in six weeks. However ... Read more
Rose Madura Dan, that's a tough call. I had Afib after surgery and fortunately it was gone in six weeks. However, I am still on Metropol which keeps my heart rate resting in the low 50's. But some would rather get off meds and risk going into Afib. It's another personal choice. I had a high heart rate for years so I feel like I'm making up all those extra beats. Glad you and your wife are planning a trip. Enjoy it!
Dan Fouratt Thanks for your feedback. I am leaning towards a monitor and if that sees nothing getting off the dr ... Read more
Dan Fouratt Thanks for your feedback. I am leaning towards a monitor and if that sees nothing getting off the drugs - better living through less chemistry
Valerie Allen A monitor sounds good. I wouldn’t dump the drugs too soon, they do have a purpose. But you know tha ... Read more
Valerie Allen A monitor sounds good. I wouldn’t dump the drugs too soon, they do have a purpose. But you know that!
To the caregivers. I was 8 weeks post op (now 9) and by all accounts doing great. My wife help get me here especially the early days. We went on vacation ...Read more
To the caregivers. I was 8 weeks post op (now 9) and by all accounts doing great. My wife help get me here especially the early days. We went on vacation last week, which was planned before surgery to celebrate recovery. Day one my wife missed the bottom stair of the place we were staying. She broke her heel, this resulted in surgery, splint, crutches and no pressure on foot for up to 12 weeks. I went from patient to caregiver overnight. I now truly respect the challenge of being a caregiver. When I was receiving help there were times I thought, “Enough I CAN DO IT”. Learning how to hit the sweet spot of making sure your patient needs are met, but not smothering them with “doing everything” is a difficult balance. I wish I understood that as a patient. Most of us will over service and smother a bit as caregivers. The patient needs to appreciate that and not be annoyed. (I have apologized.) In addition to the above balance, it is a lot of work to be the caregiver. I have a new gratitude and appreciation for the help I received.
Valerie Allen Especially at first it is a difficult and stressful job. Then it is hard to judge when and how much t ... Read more
Valerie Allen Especially at first it is a difficult and stressful job. Then it is hard to judge when and how much to pull back over time. Sorry this happened on your vacation! A lot of added stress for you both. My husband is scheduled for thyroid surgery in 2 weeks. I’ll be 7 weeks post op. Luckily our daughter will be overseeing the first 2 days since she lives close to the hospital. But I imagine I’ll need to be caregiver for a bit as well. Best to your wife!
Rose Madura Oh Dan. I'm sorry this happened to your celebration vacation. Your words are touching. It reminds me ... Read more
Rose Madura Oh Dan. I'm sorry this happened to your celebration vacation. Your words are touching. It reminds me of the great care my husband gave me. God bless you both. 🙏
Suelynn Hanegraaf Wow, Dan and Rose! So soon to switch places! I was reminded that there is a fine line between smother ... Read more
Suelynn Hanegraaf Wow, Dan and Rose! So soon to switch places! I was reminded that there is a fine line between smothering and caring and my husband is doing his best. Thanks!
Robert Miller Glad to hear you recovering pretty good but sorry to hear about your wife's accident. Bad timing. ... Read more
Robert Miller Glad to hear you recovering pretty good but sorry to hear about your wife's accident. Bad timing.
My wife accommodated me a lot. I tend to do more than I should and she kind of kept me in check to follow the doctor's advice. At the same time, she did tell me things like "my mom would have used a ladle to fill her water bottle" (it was a heavy copper pan with about 1.5 gallons of tea...). The important thing is to do as much as you can without overdoing it and communicate what you need help with and what not. It's actually kind of a bonding thing.
Susan Lynn Oh no!!! I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's foot. Glad you have each other for support. I d... Read more
Susan Lynn Oh no!!! I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's foot. Glad you have each other for support. I don't know what we would do without our caregivers! Wishing you both speedy recoveries!
meg oconnell Wow, so sorry this happened. You will do great as a caregiver, just be patient with yourself. Wishin ... Read more
meg oconnell Wow, so sorry this happened. You will do great as a caregiver, just be patient with yourself. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery.
Christine Maiorano Dan, so sorry to hear about your wife! Wishing her a speedy recovery . Like you , I have the the grea ... Read more
Christine Maiorano Dan, so sorry to hear about your wife! Wishing her a speedy recovery . Like you , I have the the greatest appreciation for caregivers! My husband has been wonderful. He’s been with me every step of the way.😊
Dan Fouratt Thank you for your thoughts. We had our first outing on Friday. big day we went to Wegmans grocery ... Read more
Dan Fouratt Thank you for your thoughts. We had our first outing on Friday. big day we went to Wegmans grocery shopping. Crutches in hand it was an adventure. She point and did everything else. It was great but she came home exhausted. Like us here, we all take it one day at a time.
I had my 6-week doctor appointment yesterday. Everything was great according to the doctors. I am doing better than the average bear. The incision point will ...Read more
I had my 6-week doctor appointment yesterday. Everything was great according to the doctors. I am doing better than the average bear. The incision point will still slow me down in some activities (golf ☹). They cut through the nerves to get to the heart, and it will take a while to recover in that area. I am basically free to get back to “normal” living other than that limitation. Now Palma (my wife) thinks this means pressure washing the patio, cleaning the deck, cleaning the garage … We are working on a better definition of normal.
I remain on two drugs for the Aflutter, down from 3 drugs! In discussions these drugs add to the safety margin of avoiding ugly outcomes (stroke). I am willing to accept the extra safety factor for the next few months. My guess is by the end of the summer I will be done with these two.
This is probably my last health update as there is nothing left to say. That is a good thing. I feel very fortunate to be where I am today with respect to my health.
Thank you for your support during this period.
Take Care,
Dan
Rose Madura Wow Dan, you are doing great! Keep working on that definition of normal! 🤔
Darrell Malone Congratulations Dan. Keep on truckin. Definitely work on that definition of normal
Daneen Douglas That's great news Dan! Please keep us posted with how you're doing as your meds are being tapered o... Read more
Daneen Douglas That's great news Dan! Please keep us posted with how you're doing as your meds are being tapered off and when you get back to your golf game! Keep on moving forward!
Sue Maize Great update Dan! You made me chuckle with the “normal” comment. 😂 I too wish you a fantastic ... Read more
Sue Maize Great update Dan! You made me chuckle with the “normal” comment. 😂 I too wish you a fantastic summer, but please don’t be a stranger! Always enjoy hearing from you! 😊
Three weeks ago I was waking up in ICU with a new aortic valve from Edwards. Ten days later a trip to the ER (Aflutter) resulting in 3 days in the hospital. ...Read more
Three weeks ago I was waking up in ICU with a new aortic valve from Edwards. Ten days later a trip to the ER (Aflutter) resulting in 3 days in the hospital. Today feeling great and went for my post surgery record of covering 13 miles in two outings. It is amazing how good medicine is today. I am still on more medications then I like, but the end of the month I see the Doc again and maybe get rid of a few.
Thank you all for your support through this, it is an amazing group.
Grace Mason Glad to hear you are back in your groove Dan
Ana Brusso Kudos to you on those walks. I’m not a walker but appreciate the walkers. 🙏❤️
Rose Madura That's amazing to me Dan. Keep up the good work! 😃
Valerie Allen Dan, you have done amazingly well. Congratulations!
Joann Rinozzi That is scary. glad ur over it. do you recommend wearing a watch for heart rhythm. I was wondering if ... Read more
Joann Rinozzi That is scary. glad ur over it. do you recommend wearing a watch for heart rhythm. I was wondering if I should purchase one.
meg oconnell Congratulations on feeling great, Dan! This is such good news. This helps me to go into my surgery ... Read more
meg oconnell Congratulations on feeling great, Dan! This is such good news. This helps me to go into my surgery (in just 8 days) with a level of peace. This is why this group is so important!
Well I hit my first bump. Sunday my heart started (150 bpm) racing and they invited me to the ER at Duke that afternoon. I was in A Flutter, a cousin of A ...Read more
Well I hit my first bump. Sunday my heart started (150 bpm) racing and they invited me to the ER at Duke that afternoon. I was in A Flutter, a cousin of A fib. My wife and I went 11.5 miles on Sat (it was a nice day) and 10 miles each of the three days before that. I was assured that was not the cause it was the surgery. So I asked my doc if it was his fault. He needs a better sense of humor. This is common temporary condition to many of us with replacement valves. I went back to the floor where I left just 7 days before and many in the floor was sad to see me. I was stable by 4:00 am. By 6:00 PM I was off all IV meds and on the pills I will take the next 8 weeks. I will remain tonight for observation and release tomorrow at 9:00. I still feel great and they say I can continue to go at the level I have been. My first official follow up in next Monday I hope the stitches come out.
Darrell Malone Wow Dan. That probably would freak me out. I'm glad your in good hands and ready to continue with you ... Read more
Darrell Malone Wow Dan. That probably would freak me out. I'm glad your in good hands and ready to continue with your recovery.
Sue Maize I personally think that was a valid question Dan! 😉 So glad you’re feeling good in spite of it a ... Read more
Sue Maize I personally think that was a valid question Dan! 😉 So glad you’re feeling good in spite of it all! Amazing energy! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
meg oconnell So glad you are staying on top of this!
J Alexander Lassally So you walked 10 -11 miles? I was confused about that part? Do get well soon! No fun to be back in th ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally So you walked 10 -11 miles? I was confused about that part? Do get well soon! No fun to be back in the hospital.
Valerie Allen Sounds like a bump in the road as you said. But sorry it happened. Hoping for good news tomorrow!
Barbara deLoache Wow Dan, So sorry you went into flutter..but fortunately you headed to the ER. I cannot imagine havin ... Read more
Barbara deLoache Wow Dan, So sorry you went into flutter..but fortunately you headed to the ER. I cannot imagine having enough energy after valve replacement to walk 10 miles so soon! That’s amazing!
Rose Madura I had my share of Afib and Aflutter. I feel for you. Are you getting Amiodarone?
Shree S Sorry to hear about the flutter. But glad you are doing ok now. Take Care
Tiago Rocha Hi Dan! Reorganize and keep the tempo! A day at a time.
Dan Fouratt The one thing I am now convinced is sleep is not possible in the hospital. I came home from the hosp... Read more
Dan Fouratt The one thing I am now convinced is sleep is not possible in the hospital. I came home from the hospital and took a nap, my wife seizing on the moment went out! Feeling much better and will get back on the exercise routine tomorrow.
Decided to go out today for the first time since 3/21 surgery. I finished my daily walk with my wife at a local outdoor mall in 2.5 hours. I came home and ...Read more
Decided to go out today for the first time since 3/21 surgery. I finished my daily walk with my wife at a local outdoor mall in 2.5 hours. I came home and took a 1.5 hour nap. however I did get out!
Rose Madura Wonderful update. Congratulations! The naps are nice, huh?
Suelynn Hanegraaf Amazed that you were able to get out for a 2.5 hour walk just eight days after surgery! You earned th ... Read more
Suelynn Hanegraaf Amazed that you were able to get out for a 2.5 hour walk just eight days after surgery! You earned that nice nap. Enjoy the holiday weekend and continue to listen to your body. 🐣
This is day two for me at home. Yesterday all I did was do my exercises and nap. I ate and took my pills also. I have read from others the nap is... Read more
This is day two for me at home. Yesterday all I did was do my exercises and nap. I ate and took my pills also. I have read from others the nap is looked forward to each day , I now completely agree. Looking for insight on how long this low energy lasts. I like to know what to look forward to and appreciate your insight. Thanks Dan
Pamela Gregory Glad you are in the comfort of your home and on the mend! Everyone is different, but the best advise... Read more
Pamela Gregory Glad you are in the comfort of your home and on the mend! Everyone is different, but the best advise I received was to listen to my body and that it isn't a sprint but more of a marathon. I think each week there was a lot of progress. Daily it was hard to see. Keep up with your walking. I believe that strengthens your heart and gets you back on track. You have been through a lot so let people wait on you, rest and nap, find a good TV series, and enjoy that this surgery is behind you.
Nancy Pennington I remember those first few days at home. Ugh. I was very tired, but wanted to do so much. Things I wa ... Read more
Nancy Pennington I remember those first few days at home. Ugh. I was very tired, but wanted to do so much. Things I was in no shape to do like clean the house, do laundry. I couldn’t bend over, lift anything, even sneezing was so painful. All I can tell you is to follow your doctor’s instructions for moving carefully and if you want to take a nap go right ahead!
Darrell Malone Hi Dan. I'm 2 weeks from surgery. It sounds to me that your doing great 👍🏻. Be well and Go Du ... Read more
Darrell Malone Hi Dan. I'm 2 weeks from surgery. It sounds to me that your doing great 👍🏻. Be well and Go Duke !
Rose Madura Dan you are doing great! Everyone heals differently. Be the tortoise 🐢 and not the hare 🐇.
Sue Maize Dan, I’m so happy to hear that all went well with your surgery and now you’re in full recovery mo ... Read more
Sue Maize Dan, I’m so happy to hear that all went well with your surgery and now you’re in full recovery mode—it seems like everyone has a different timetable for what they can and can’t do, so I agree with others, listen to your body and don’t over do it. Healing takes time. 🙏🏻
Tiago Rocha Hi Dan! Great to hear! In my case energy floated on the first couple of weeks. I was always anxious f ... Read more
Tiago Rocha Hi Dan! Great to hear! In my case energy floated on the first couple of weeks. I was always anxious for the “walk” in order I can “feel” how I was improving. First major difference at the end of week 4. At week 8 the world was very different and I felt a big difference. Keep going step by step!
Barbara deLoache Sounds like you are doing great..congratulations!
Nancy Bukowski Awesome, Dan! Thank you for the update and best wishes on your speedy recovery!!
Dan Fouratt Last night was great I slept 10 hours and only woke up onetime. Now that did put me behind on my Th... Read more
Dan Fouratt Last night was great I slept 10 hours and only woke up onetime. Now that did put me behind on my Three work out sessions today... I got one in and prob ably will take a nap before the next one
Jovan Dumas Looking forward to my bed as well! Enjoy your restful evenings!
Karen Hadden I’m sure it’s a relief to be home! Sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery 😉
I would like to thank all the well wishers, it means a lot. I showed up at the Cat lab Wed morning at 8:30. I was lucky both my surgeon and interventional ...Read more
I would like to thank all the well wishers, it means a lot. I showed up at the Cat lab Wed morning at 8:30. I was lucky both my surgeon and interventional cardiologist were on site. My cat was done my my cardiologist as he switched with the person originally scheduled to perform it. It work out well as there was a grey area, all three of us could make the decision. I went to my hospital room and met with a series of people for my surgery. That last one to show up was the shaver (did not know that was happening). He finished up at 12:30 am. My transportation from room to surgical area showed up at 5:00, not much sleep. I was in ICU recovery before 10:00, less then 3 hours in surgery. Every said I looked great, I did not feel great. I took my first walk at 2:30 and the second walk at 5:30. The next morning at 5:00 am I walked 0.5 miles. The first night in the ICU I was on an insulin drip, which includes a blood test every hour, I did not sleep at all for day two. I understand these are common practices, I just simply was not aware of them. Friday I made it to the step down recovery by 10:00 less then 24 hours after surgery. I still feel bad but everyone is telling me I am doing great. I walked over 2 miles on Friday. I had a few tubes pulled out but still have many more to go. It is 3:45 in the morning and I probably had 3 2-hour napes lat night and feel a bit better. I am at Duke and yesterday was considered day 1 in the recovery process. Hopefully day two will go well. They say this is the day you begin to stop hurting.
Thank you for your support.
Dan
Susan Lynn Yay! You did it! Welcome to recovery, Dan! It sounds like you're doing extremely well if you've ... Read more
Susan Lynn Yay! You did it! Welcome to recovery, Dan! It sounds like you're doing extremely well if you've walked that much already!! You have to remember, residual anesthesia and lots of drugs are going to affect how you feel in the next several days. And - your body is working overtime to heal from the trauma of surgery. You'll feel better as more tubes are removed - there's something liberating about it. Just be careful to take each day of recovery one at a time. It's not a linear process. Some days you'll feel energetic, others, you'll be exhausted. Do what you can to maintain a level of activity without overdoing it and you will see progress with each passing week. I hope you get some real sleep tonight. Btw, sorry we didn't warn you about the shaving. As long as we're on the subject of things you might not have known about heart surgery, they're not going to discharge you until they know your GI system is working, so eat whatever is necessary to 'make that happen.' Wishing you all the best! Please keep us updated!
Tiago Rocha Hi Dan! Your “battle rhythm” is going accordingly taking in consideration your words! Don’t be ... Read more
Tiago Rocha Hi Dan! Your “battle rhythm” is going accordingly taking in consideration your words! Don’t be hard on yourself. Step by step! Day after day! You will feel better for sure. Rest is very important as moving. Balance it. My suggestion since it was one of my pitfalls is to plan the sleep in accordance with your routines for these upcoming days. We have the meds to take, the blood tests, the Xrays and in the end the days run over these routines that don’t stop at night either. My sleep was poor during the hospital phase. The limited position to sleep was also a bottleneck that I didn’t foreseen has I focused to much on the techniques to get up from bed. More than chest pains because of the sternum, as I didn’t felt it that much, my backs suffered a bit. I had to adapt sleeping patterns either sitting or laying down with my head lifted up with the pillows and the bed adjustment. You will feel better as time goes by! It’s also a good time to learn in order you can be autonomous as fast as you can. Stay positive and take your time!
meg oconnell Awesome news! Congratulations for being on this side of the journey! Love you already walked 2 miles ... Read more
meg oconnell Awesome news! Congratulations for being on this side of the journey! Love you already walked 2 miles. That is so great. Keep up the positive progress.
Rose Madura The walking is good for you. Glad all is well. Slow and steady wins the race.
Stephen Oelschlager Hi Dan, Been following your heart valve story for the past few days. Glad to hear your surgery went w ... Read more
Stephen Oelschlager Hi Dan, Been following your heart valve story for the past few days. Glad to hear your surgery went well and is in the rear view mirror. From a novice in all of this and an objective pov, walking two miles after such a major operation strikes me as amazing. Hope day two is as positive as your recovery been so far. Sending you good wishes and positive energy.
David Pearl Dan you are a good man and deserve the best
Daneen Douglas Fantastic progress! Hope each new day brings great continued progress and less pain.
Ana Brusso Great and positive post Dan. Don’t try to over do it. It’s one day at a time. Continued improveme ... Read more
Ana Brusso Great and positive post Dan. Don’t try to over do it. It’s one day at a time. Continued improvement and good health. God bless you 🙏❤️👍
Dan Fouratt THANK EVERYONE HERE ON THE SITE. Your insight (except not mentioning the shave part ) helped me pre... Read more
Dan Fouratt THANK EVERYONE HERE ON THE SITE. Your insight (except not mentioning the shave part ) helped me prepare and get ready for the event. You are the reasons I am going through this well. I did make it to 4.3 miles today with doctor approval. Like Meg said it is better on the recovery side then the waiting side.
Barbara deLoache Excellent news Dan. You have been doing a great deal of walking so soon in your recovery! Impressive! ... Read more
Barbara deLoache Excellent news Dan. You have been doing a great deal of walking so soon in your recovery! Impressive!!
Nancy Bukowski Thanks for the information, Dan. Happy to hear that you are on the recovery side.
I spoke with a dietitian about what was best to eat. She recommended a high protein diet after surgery with a low sodium. She provided a target of 1.5 grams ...Read more
I spoke with a dietitian about what was best to eat. She recommended a high protein diet after surgery with a low sodium. She provided a target of 1.5 grams protein per 1 kg of weight (okay I will need slightly under 150) and keep the sodium to under 2,000 milligrams. Has anyone one else received guidelines for post surgery? What were they? I ask as I looked at several recipes that I can modify to easily meet the above goals. Should I spend the time doing it? Or do we simply not eat enough to worry about it. Thanks for any insight. Dan
Valerie Allen I haven’t gotten anything on that but surely keeping a low sodium diet will be important for fluid ... Read more
Valerie Allen I haven’t gotten anything on that but surely keeping a low sodium diet will be important for fluid retention. High protein I think advances healing, as many in the group have had protein shakes before and after surgery.
Yumiko Ishida If you have the time I would experiment and try to meet the goals the dietitian recommends without to ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida If you have the time I would experiment and try to meet the goals the dietitian recommends without too much effort during your recovery period. I don’t like overly sweet things, so I came up with several protein shake recipes that I enjoy. I used to drink tea, but now drink a “decaf-flavored” collagen / bone broth protein beverage every morning. Before my surgery I made bone broth and asked my partner to bring me a thermos full everyday while I was in the hospital. High protein diet before the surgery is important, too, but it’s easy enough when you can eat solid food. For the recovery period, I think it’s worth experimenting beforehand to come up with a variety of soft/liquid sources of protein you might actually enjoy.
Grace Mason I was told also under 2000mg of sodium, but wasn't given a specific amount of protein, just "eat a l... Read more
Grace Mason I was told also under 2000mg of sodium, but wasn't given a specific amount of protein, just "eat a lot of protein"
David Pearl I am plant based low fat low salt whole foods...can get plant based protein powder
Does everyone who gets a biological valve go on blood thinners for a period of time or do some people completely avoid the need?
Marie Myers I was only prescribed a baby aspirin since my surgery 7 years ago. There was no temporary blood thinn ... Read more
Marie Myers I was only prescribed a baby aspirin since my surgery 7 years ago. There was no temporary blood thinners in my experience. I know some docs prescribe them for some people, and it may depend on your individual history and hospital course.
Daniel Green I was on Coumadin for about 3 months following my surgery. I had to have regular blood tests during t ... Read more
Daniel Green I was on Coumadin for about 3 months following my surgery. I had to have regular blood tests during that period. After the Coumadin I take a baby aspirin which I’ll probably take for the rest of my life. No big deal.
Pamela Gregory I am also only with a baby aspirin forever. No additional blood thinners after surgery
Herb Greenberg It's been 4 years and it's only been baby aspirin daily.
Rose Madura I had blood thinners at first, then baby aspirin, now nothing
Brady Busch At the hospital,where mine was done,University of Washington,I think everyone takes Warfarin,for thre ... Read more
Brady Busch At the hospital,where mine was done,University of Washington,I think everyone takes Warfarin,for three months afterwards. I'm still taking Eliquis and mild dose aspirin,over two years later,because atrial fibrillation,developed following surgery.
Sean Adkins I've only been on the daily baby aspirin.
Larry Peterson Only a baby aspirin for me. Docs said I need to take one for the rest of my life.
Yumiko Ishida Warfarin for three months. Haven’t asked if or when I can stop taking baby aspirin. I was taking bo ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida Warfarin for three months. Haven’t asked if or when I can stop taking baby aspirin. I was taking both before the surgery and I am eager to be off warfarin so I triple checked I can go off of it once I got a new biological valve. Afib is common post surgery though, so if you get afib they will likely put you on warfarin until the arrhythmia is under control.
Dan Fouratt Well I hope it is baby aspirin as I already take that. Thanks for the input.
Juli Gorence Fernandez Warfarin for 3 months for me too. On my 7th week of recovery. Feeling much better too.
Amazing what a year will bring you. Last year in March my wife and I, left side,
were in Italy. This picture is from a day
where we met chef Marco (bottom) in an open air fresh market. We met another
couple, bought food and went back to his apartment where he taught us how to
cook. His first lesson was, you cook with
wine, that is in your glass and it was not even 11:00. We did use some for the food also. The picture
shows us enjoying the fruits of our labor. We had many other great experiences over the 3
plus weeks we spent there. Fast forward twelve months and I have had a brain tumor
treated in the fall and I am two weeks from OHS. I ramble a bit to a point that
we all should enjoy our lives. I appreciate the positive attitude of this group
in helping me achieve that goal. The positive messages you all share helps me keep
a positive attitude. I am looking forward to getting this behind me and moving on with life. Stay strong. Thanks, Dan
c w Hope you will have many more wonderful experiences in the future!!
Grace Mason Great pic and lovely memory of food, wine and friends. Hope all is well with your brain tumor. Sendin ... Read more
Grace Mason Great pic and lovely memory of food, wine and friends. Hope all is well with your brain tumor. Sending well wishes that this year will be all about healing and new adventures.
Ana Brusso Agree with Grace. We will be here for you. Keeping you in prayer. God bless you ❤️🙏
Nancy Bukowski You will be ready for another trip soon, Dan!
Rose Madura Great picture. Sounds like a fun trip. God bless you.
Daneen Douglas Wonderful words of encouragement and of being a survivor and triumphing over the obstacles in life. I ... Read more
Daneen Douglas Wonderful words of encouragement and of being a survivor and triumphing over the obstacles in life. I feel the same about this group, and I find strength in others’ encouragement and stories of recovery as I also get close to my surgery date. You are a true warrior and inspiration to us all, Dan.
Anna Ma Thank you for sharing! You are an amazing fighter! I just checked out your story, we are on the same ... Read more
Anna Ma Thank you for sharing! You are an amazing fighter! I just checked out your story, we are on the same schedule, in different hospital though.:) I will have cath on 3/20 and surgery next day on 3/21. Will pray for both of our surgeries!
Barbara deLoache Looks like so much fun.. Best wished for a very successful surgery & recovery! More travels ahead!!
Dealing with the first wake up after surgery and the tubes. I read Adam’s 2009 tube story “When I Wake Up In The ICU, How Many
Tubes Will Be Sticking Out Of Me?” I spoke with one friend who said the
only way he did not pull out the ventilator tube was a great ICU nurse. Another
person had to be restrained to keep from pulling them out. Two questions 1)
1) In Adam’s story he states that “I was one of the
lucky ones that woke up with the vent tube in place.” This implies there are
some unlucky people who wake you with it removed. What are the odds of a person being unlucky
when they wake up?2)
2) If you are lucky and it is in, any words to how
best to deal with it? Thanks, Dan
Marie Myers I was really dreading waking up intubated. The reality for me was that the drug haze from hours of su ... Read more
Marie Myers I was really dreading waking up intubated. The reality for me was that the drug haze from hours of surgery really make the experience doable. The nurses had wrapped my hands with gauze, like big boxing gloves. I couldn’t pull out the tube even if I wanted to. And I really didn’t even want to pull it out. I vaguely remember thinking , “ oh, I am intubated”, and I remember chewing on the tube. Within a few minutes ( it seems) the tube was removed. I don’t remember coughing or anything. You are in a real fog of drugs those first few hours, so things are not very clear. I remember just thinking “relax, and breathe easy”. It must have worked… Hope you find a similar experience!
Jennifer Fuller I was fully awake while still intubated for many hours after surgery. It was by far the worst part of ... Read more
Jennifer Fuller I was fully awake while still intubated for many hours after surgery. It was by far the worst part of the whole experience. I didn’t have to restrained, but I get why some people need to be. I just kept grunting at the nurses and my husband that I wanted it out as soon as possible. Weirdly the most painful part was the pressure that the tube put on my mouth that might have been somewhat lessened with a gauze pad or wad of cotton or something between my bottom teeth and the tube. My mouth was also insanely dry. Of course you can’t have water, but one of those moistened mouth swabs would have been great. Unfortunately I couldn’t speak and couldn’t even type out a message on my phone because I was shaking so hard. The good news is that the tube removal was easy. I had to cough a few times while they pulled out the tube, but it wasn’t bad. Everything after that seemed relatively easy. The even better news is that I’m 3 months out from surgery and doing really well!
Barbara deLoache Hi Dan… I have worked as a nurse in the OR and some in recovery for many years. Most of the patient ... Read more
Barbara deLoache Hi Dan… I have worked as a nurse in the OR and some in recovery for many years. Most of the patients were intubated. In other surgery besides cardiac the patients are mostly extubated while still in the OR. But heart patients go to ICU with the tube still in because you are not fully ready to breathe on your own yet and still need a ventilator. Your lungs are a little slow to be able to take charge yet. They want to be absolutely sure you can breathe on your own. So each patient is different as to how long the tube is in. There is no good or bad to the timing as long as the anesthesia staff is sure you are ready. While you are intubated you will be medicated & they will slowly decrease the dosage so your lungs can wake up.
Rose Madura I still had the breathing tube when I woke up and immediately realized my hands were in restraints. I ... Read more
Rose Madura I still had the breathing tube when I woke up and immediately realized my hands were in restraints. I gagged and my great ICU nurse, Bill, and my even greater husband, Rick calmed me down. It was in for I don't know how long. Once I was aware of why it was still in, I calmed down and it wasn't so bad.
Dan Fouratt Thank you all for your feedback, it helps. Jennifer great news on your recovery, keep it up! Dan
Yumiko Ishida I don’t remember the ventilator and was never restrained. Apparently I was awake (was responding wh ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I don’t remember the ventilator and was never restrained. Apparently I was awake (was responding when spoken to) but I have no recollection, and am grateful for that!
I plan on sleeping on this and maybe have a glass of wine to
and do some deep thinking. When I make the “final” decision I will update My
Valve Story. I had my CT today and met with my surgeon. First, I like to thank the many that weighed
in on SAVR first then TAVR when we get our next one. I was mentally prepared when
that was tossed out, that is a lot better then hearing it for the first time. I
was hoping for the recommendation of TAVR.
However, many of you have said in a nice way, “son that is not going to
happen”. Again, preparing me mentally for
the statement and when it came out, I did not fight. Also thank you to everyone
else who made comments or simply had My Valve Stories that I used in my decision
journey. Though TAVR after TAVR are taking place there are no guarantee
of success. He mentioned the Russian
Doll toy scenario as an issue if successful with the TAVR-TAVR. Also, if you need to remove a TAVR to replace
it with a SAVR that is a much more difficult surgery with higher failure (lovely
term) rates. And he stated I am young and can get through SAVR and in 10 to 15
years I will not be young any more and will need the TAVR. It has been a while
since young was used to describe me, ask my kids! The good news (yes, I find humor in that line for a procedure
that stops your heart 😊) the CT showed it was only my valve that is
an issue. This makes me eligible for Minimally
Invasive MI-ARV, see below: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8024828/ When I was preparing, I came across the above and another
article. Not as easy as TARV but not
cracking me completely open. Has anyone gone through this procedure? Where I
sit today is MI-ARV scheduled for March 22.
The CAT will be done the day before and if it shows SARV is required to
fixed other issues we will switch. Given everything, he has seen on the tests so far, he
is not expecting anything. My surgeon does 100 valve replacements annually. He does SAVR and TAVR. He has five glowing reviews on here dating
back to 2009, so he has been at it a long time. I like the impression he made and the
attention he paid to my questions. My wife was with me and she is also very comfortable
with him. Has anyone used him? Duke is not Heart Hospital list; however, they are in the
top 25 by US News. Has anyone use them? Thank you all for your support on this decision journey. I
now have my 20 to 30 year plan put together.
Step 1 to 48 is to continue to exercise and prepare. Step (day) 49 is to get it replaced and sleep
through to process. Keep on Ticking, Dan
Nancy Bukowski Hi Dan, someone that I work with had a bicuspid aortic valve with severe stenosis. No other issues o ... Read more
Nancy Bukowski Hi Dan, someone that I work with had a bicuspid aortic valve with severe stenosis. No other issues other than that. He had a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement, which was recommended by his surgeon. He has had no complications since his surgery. I have an appt with my surgeon on Monday, the 5th, and will share any news I receive regarding this. I am in the same boat currently - bicuspid aortic valve with severe stenosis and no other issues. Thank you for sharing the article on MI-ARV.
Dan Fouratt You are welcome, I was hoping for TAVR but yesterday came to the conclusion that MI-ARV is the way am ... Read more
Dan Fouratt You are welcome, I was hoping for TAVR but yesterday came to the conclusion that MI-ARV is the way am going to go. I was prepared to ask but the Doctor brought it up. He said I had no other issues therefore this surgery will work on me. He did add that it will still hurt :). How long did it take your friend to recovery?
Daneen Douglas When it comes down to it you have to be comfortable with your surgeon. My surgeon operates at a loca ... Read more
Daneen Douglas When it comes down to it you have to be comfortable with your surgeon. My surgeon operates at a local heart hospital, was recommended by my cardiologist, who is amazing. I trusted her recommendation since I have a lot going on and she said she would research to find the surgeon most qualified for my procedures. He was also great at thoroughly answering questions and concerns and explaining details. So, your surgeon does not have to necessarily be world renowned, but must experienced with numerous successful outcomes.
Nancy Bukowski Hi Dan, my friend was back at work within five weeks (desk job). He made strides every week and was ... Read more
Nancy Bukowski Hi Dan, my friend was back at work within five weeks (desk job). He made strides every week and was happy that he went with the MI-AVR.
Barbara deLoache Hi Dan.. You have done a beautiful job of describing what I am going through right now. I also have a ... Read more
Barbara deLoache Hi Dan.. You have done a beautiful job of describing what I am going through right now. I also have a severely stenotic bicuspid aortic valve. My CT IS IN 2 days. I have done lots of research as well and agree with all you have written. The difference is that I am 77. My health is good otherwise and the TAVR/ SAVR is the question. As I have encountered in my reading numerous times, TAVR is frequently not the best for bicuspid. So , I meet with an interventional cardiologist and a very well respected surgeon where I live on 2/28 to get their take. I live in Asheville but have decided to have my surgery here due to the excellent cardiac surgeon and heart teams here. Being single, it would be difficult to travel elsewhere. Duke will be an excellent choice for you. I have been an OR nurse for 45 years….that actually does not make this any easier. Please continue to post your progress.. I am right behind you as we travel this path. 🌸
Dan Fouratt I made this chart in prep for Friday's meeting with the surgeon. I am not sure which way he is going ... Read more
Dan Fouratt I made this chart in prep for Friday's meeting with the surgeon. I am not sure which way he is going. My second doc seams to think only SAVR but I have a CT to size for TARV right before the meeting. Am I missing some important details? How much say does the patient have. When I dealt with my brain tumor this fall, I had the final say in which procedure to follow.
Thanks
Valerie Allen Hi Dan, there are sometimes physical aspects of the valve which are not aligned with TAVR, as I under ... Read more
Valerie Allen Hi Dan, there are sometimes physical aspects of the valve which are not aligned with TAVR, as I understand it. Examples: Bicuspid Aortic Valve (not sure if always true), valve previously damaged by illness, aortic aneurysm, perhaps of a certain size. Your surgeon should give you this info once you’ve had a CT.
Richard Munson I love this outline. You have done your homework now its time the surgeon addresses your questions ba ... Read more
Richard Munson I love this outline. You have done your homework now its time the surgeon addresses your questions based on facts you present. An informed patient is a good patient. Good luck.
Dan Fouratt Valerie and Richard thank you for the information and the support. Now it is just witing until Frid ... Read more
Dan Fouratt Valerie and Richard thank you for the information and the support. Now it is just witing until Friday and maybe working a little more on my chart.
Daneen Douglas Yes, I agree with Valerie and Grace. Bicuspid valve along with age limits TAVR for the first surger ... Read more
Daneen Douglas Yes, I agree with Valerie and Grace. Bicuspid valve along with age limits TAVR for the first surgery. But, it can happen for the second surgery. Yes, give yourself a wide berth for healing. I love your chart, Dan. Those I know get off the pain killers ASAP.
Daneen Douglas Keep us posted after you meet with your surgeon.
J Alexander Lassally I like your feel normal row ! Definitely two plus on the sternotomy options .... But you know that i ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally I like your feel normal row ! Definitely two plus on the sternotomy options .... But you know that is not a bad thing if there is durability of the repair.
Has anyone found clear information about the durability of the the valves them self. I found a lot about life expectancy of the patient but missed anything ...Read more
Has anyone found clear information about the durability of the the valves them self. I found a lot about life expectancy of the patient but missed anything about the valve. For example the Edwards Sapien 3 will function 11.3 years on average with a STD of 6.3 months. I know they have tested the valve and have the number of times it will open and close before not working. I am looking for same on animal valves. Can someone point me in a direction to find this data?
Marie Myers I am not sure there is any hard-and-fast info on how long any tissue valve will last. Therein lies th ... Read more
Marie Myers I am not sure there is any hard-and-fast info on how long any tissue valve will last. Therein lies the difficulty in making a decision. I have read accounts of people on here who had to replace tissue valves as early as 3-5 years, and others who are doing well at 12. I wonder if Some of the confounding issues are the patient’s level of activity and their own physiology. I know the younger the patient, the shorter the life of the tissue valve. Sometimes there are issues with the valve itself, like the early deterioration of some of the equine Trifecta valves. I believe these are not marketed in the US anymore. I wrestled with this decision for months before my surgery also. I ultimately chose a tissue valve (Edwards Magna Ease), and i am coming up on 7 years. Only time will tell!
Civita Fahey Yes Marie we are both going on 7 years with the same Valve! Here's to many more!
Jennifer Fuller As Marie says, there’s no hard and fast info. Everyone is so different, and there are innumerable f ... Read more
Jennifer Fuller As Marie says, there’s no hard and fast info. Everyone is so different, and there are innumerable factors that come into play. I’ve decided the only thing to do is take care of myself as well as I can and hope for the best. That said, I’m off to hop on the treadmill!
Antoinette Weale That’s very true Jennifer one has to take care of themselves.
Antoinette Weale I have had my mechanical valve for 30 years now. I walk everyday, don’t smoke or drink and try to e ... Read more
Antoinette Weale I have had my mechanical valve for 30 years now. I walk everyday, don’t smoke or drink and try to eat healthy cause of taking warfarin. I don’t restrict myself totally and do eat what I want but in moderation. Just take care of you and hope your valve will take care of you too.
I made progress this afternoon on my path. I have a CT scheduled 2/2 then a meeting with the surgeon.
The CT is:
CT TAVR PROTOCOL INC CTA CHEST HEART ABD PELVIS W SURG PLNG
Does anyone know what I should expect? What they are looking for? With everything done through mychart you do not get to talk with people.
Thanks,
Dan
Marie Myers The CT scan is a relatively easy procedure to have. They will start an IV to inject contrast dye, Aft ... Read more
Marie Myers The CT scan is a relatively easy procedure to have. They will start an IV to inject contrast dye, After the contrast dye is injected, the machine will take the CT scan pictures.I don’t remember it being a very long procedure. This scan will give a more precise picture of your anatomy, so decisions about your procedure can be made. It is routinely done as part of the work-up prior to surgery. You will get the results from your doctor hopefully within a few days. Hope that helps!
Dan Fouratt Thanks it does. I see my surgeon 2 hours after the CT for the review!
Chain 2: Looking for others who might be in a like
position or were in a like position. I
am 63 and will need my valve replaced. I
believe the general ...Read more
Chain 2: Looking for others who might be in a like
position or were in a like position. I
am 63 and will need my valve replaced. I
believe the general push is for the SARV by the medical professionals. To me the
TAVR makes for sense. Was this a dilemma
for you and how did you work through it.
Valerie Allen It looks like I might have the same aortic issues as you. Last spring I went to Cleveland Clinic for ... Read more
Valerie Allen It looks like I might have the same aortic issues as you. Last spring I went to Cleveland Clinic for TAVR evaluation and learned quickly that in general TAVR is not the first fix for BAV as the new valve pushes the original valve to the side and often will not form a good seal because of the BAV, resulting in regurgitation. The first surgery is generally a SAVR then later, if needed, in 10-15 years a TAVR can be successful. A tough pill to swallow but makes sense.
Geraldo De Souza Hi Dan, my dad is 64 and just underwent surgery for aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. ... Read more
Geraldo De Souza Hi Dan, my dad is 64 and just underwent surgery for aortic valve replacement and mitral valve repair. I am not a doctor but my understanding is it’s difficult to fix aortic valve regurgitation through a transcatheter given that the underlying problem in this case is that the valve is not closing properly (ie blood flows back to your left ventricle). TAVR works well when the valve is actually closing too much (stenosis) and through a transcatheter one can insert a valve in the damaged valve and “pop” it open.
Marie Myers I was 63 when I was told I needed surgery. I knew TAVR would not be an option due to my “young age ... Read more
Marie Myers I was 63 when I was told I needed surgery. I knew TAVR would not be an option due to my “young age” and good overall health. My hardest decision was whether to get a mechanical valve or a tissue valve. I went back and forth for months before deciding on a tissue valve. When this Tissue valve wears out, then i am hoping to get a TAVR.
Dan Fouratt It is hard to imagine we are "young" at 63. I have read that almost 50% of valve replacement for the ... Read more
Dan Fouratt It is hard to imagine we are "young" at 63. I have read that almost 50% of valve replacement for the young group under 65 are now TAVR. I know this is not what the recommendation is. I will struggle with this. If I go surgery I agree with your choice of the valve type.
Rose Madura I was never considered for TAVR because of age (59) and I had rheumatic fever as a child which severe ... Read more
Rose Madura I was never considered for TAVR because of age (59) and I had rheumatic fever as a child which severely damaged the aortic valve. So like Marie, I chose a tissue valve with the understanding of TAVR in future if need be.
Rita Savelis One has to take a surgeon's advice. Not everyone is a candidate for TAVR. There are many valid reason ... Read more
Rita Savelis One has to take a surgeon's advice. Not everyone is a candidate for TAVR. There are many valid reasons to do a SARV. Your surgeon/interventionist should be able to explain to you which procedure is optimal for your specific valve situation. I had 2 valves replaced and a third repaired and TAVR was not an option - the surgeon needed to see better what was going on with my specific stenosis. I wasn't disappointed, as I trusted his wisdom.
Chain 1: First, I would like to thank all you that provided
questions as well as the information on this site. I was prepared for my first meeting, but the ...Read more
Chain 1: First, I would like to thank all you that provided
questions as well as the information on this site. I was prepared for my first meeting, but the
net results are I am now referred to a surgeon.
This is one of two chains I plan on starting. The question I have for the group, do you
have a recommendation for an SAVR surgeon and a TAVR surgeon in the Raleigh,
Durham or Chapel Hill area. Better yet are there ones you would avoid using?
Grace Mason Have you checked out the surgeon finder by zip code or state in the drop down? You could see area sur ... Read more
Grace Mason Have you checked out the surgeon finder by zip code or state in the drop down? You could see area surgeons and reviews there.
Dan Fouratt I have and it it useful to a point. Many of the review are "old". There are only 14 doctors on ist ... Read more
Dan Fouratt I have and it it useful to a point. Many of the review are "old". There are only 14 doctors on ist for my zip code and there are many more doctors than that in the area. I am hoping to get more current information.
Chain 2: Looking for others who might be in a like
position or were in a like position. I
am 63 and will need my valve replaced. I
believe the general ...Read more
Chain 2: Looking for others who might be in a like
position or were in a like position. I
am 63 and will need my valve replaced. I
believe the general push is for the SARV by the medical professionals. To me the
TAVR makes for sense. Was this a dilemma
for you and how did you work through it.
Beckie Jess I was advised to get the biggest tissue valve possible, SAVR, then in 10 years I would be a candidat ... Read more
Beckie Jess I was advised to get the biggest tissue valve possible, SAVR, then in 10 years I would be a candidate for TAVR. I am not sold on the tissue valve at this point. Will need more Info.
Jennifer Fuller I just had SAVR, and had hoped to have TAVR in the future - I’m 53 - but I wound up with a pretty s ... Read more
Jennifer Fuller I just had SAVR, and had hoped to have TAVR in the future - I’m 53 - but I wound up with a pretty small valve, a 21. I’m thinking TAVR will probably not be an option for me.
Beckie Jess Just found out yhe new and improved plan is for mechanical with savr. Nervous, but ready to get on wi ... Read more
Beckie Jess Just found out yhe new and improved plan is for mechanical with savr. Nervous, but ready to get on with it!
Anna Ma happy anniversary to you too. I also recall several others going in on the 20th and 22th, it was a busy week for this group.
All of you going in to surgery you will find recovery is the fun part.
Have a great day.
Dan
Many more valveversaries to you. Be well Heart Warrior
Thank you all, this has been a great day, My work out was great, got a lot of things done and it is ... Read more
Thank you all, this has been a great day, My work out was great, got a lot of things done and it is only 1:00! Like I am standing on top of the world or at least a tall building! (Bangkok two weeks ago)
doctor recommends. I'm happy with 6
h ... Read more
doctor recommends. I'm happy with 6
hours and that's true, stay in bed lying down for 8 hours. 😂 Best wishes to all.
https://www... Read more
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2024/10/johns-hopkins-medicine-study-finds-commonly-used-arm-positions-can-substantially-overestimate-blood-pressure-readings
Good article Dan, thank you.
I have known this for years, and I do notice they do not always d ... Read more
Good article Dan, thank you.
I have known this for years, and I do notice they do not always do it properly at Dr offices. Most of the time, they do hold my arm up when they take it manually. I have always rested my arm on my chest high end table when taking my bp at home. I purposely put one of my folding tray tables on my left side of my rocker recliner that also is more convenient for my crafts I do, but even a regular end table is preferable to letting your arm rest in your lap to take your bp. Also, feet flat on the floor and resting for at least a few minutes after sitting down. It will also not be accurate if you've just taken a hot bath or shower or right after eating a large meal. Try to take it at different times of day also about the same times so you get a better understanding of your personal "norms". My bp started getting too low a few months ago in the evenings after my Amlodipine besylate I was told to take around 5p.m. (was at 5mg) and my Dr lowered it to 2.5mg. Perfect now most evenings. She also told me taking a hot shower can lower it, so told me to try not to take too hot of a shower in evening. I guess this is why they say we cannot use hot tubs.
Thanks
My mother had an adverse reaction to stains and I vowed to never take them. You may just be one of those people who produces cholesterol - like me and my siblings.
I suggest reading the book called The Cholesterol Myth. I gave a copy to my primary care doc. It's written by a cardiologist and he has very definitive opinions about cholesterol and the use of stains. Best of luck to you!
Made a huge difference. ... Read more
Made a huge difference.
No noticeable side-effects. I go to the John Hopkins Lipid Clinic. I have genetically high LDL and LP(a). The latter is the most important metric. If you are 80 to 100 w/ ldl after highest dose of statin and Zetia it is beyond reasonable that it was recommended.
Other then this issue I was given the all clear to do what I want. My wife is also improving getting to the point of walking in her boot. We planned a trip the end of August.
... Read more
My wife accommodated me a lot. I tend to do more than I should and she kind of kept me in check to follow the doctor's advice. At the same time, she did tell me things like "my mom would have used a ladle to fill her water bottle" (it was a heavy copper pan with about 1.5 gallons of tea...). The important thing is to do as much as you can without overdoing it and communicate what you need help with and what not. It's actually kind of a bonding thing.
I remain on two drugs for the Aflutter, down from 3 drugs! In discussions these drugs add to the safety margin of avoiding ugly outcomes (stroke). I am willing to accept the extra safety factor for the next few months. My guess is by the end of the summer I will be done with these two.
This is probably my last health update as there is nothing left to say. That is a good thing. I feel very fortunate to be where I am today with respect to my health.
Thank you for your support during this period.
Take Care,
Dan
Thank you all for your support through this, it is an amazing group.
Keep it up
Thank you for your support.
Dan
You'll feel better as more tubes are removed - there's something liberating about it. Just be careful to take each day of recovery one at a time. It's not a linear process. Some days you'll feel energetic, others, you'll be exhausted. Do what you can to maintain a level of activity without overdoing it and you will see progress with each passing week.
I hope you get some real sleep tonight.
Btw, sorry we didn't warn you about the shaving. As long as we're on the subject of things you might not have known about heart surgery, they're not going to discharge you until they know your GI system is working, so eat whatever is necessary to 'make that happen.'
Wishing you all the best! Please keep us updated!
I'm still taking Eliquis and mild dose aspirin,over two years later,because atrial fibrillation,developed following surgery.
2) If you are lucky and it is in, any words to how best to deal with it? Thanks, Dan
This brought a laugh to me and my wife this morning.
Thanks
The CT is:
CT TAVR PROTOCOL INC CTA CHEST ...Read more
The CT is:
CT TAVR PROTOCOL INC CTA CHEST HEART ABD PELVIS W SURG PLNG
Does anyone know what I should expect? What they are looking for? With everything done through mychart you do not get to talk with people.
Thanks,
Dan